Trees, Shrubs and Vines 



resembles that of the silver-bell-tree elsewhere described. 

 Of our three native species, one or two are worthy of 

 cultivation — S. grandiflora, about six feet high, and the 

 lower S. obassia, the flowers of both clustered in racemes. 

 But a better species is the one from Japan, S. serrulata, 

 with finer leaves and larger blossoms, of quite an arboreal 

 figure with spreading branches. Its hardiness and adap- 

 tability also recommend it, with perhaps the only draw- 

 back that its flowering period is very brief. 



The fact that a plant blossoms as late as September or 

 even October attracts attention, and becomes a large in- 

 ducement to its cultivation. We have two such species 

 in the Desmodium genus, both of foreign growth — D. 

 penduliflorum, of purplish-rose color, and D. japonicum, 

 with white blossoms. The flowering is profuse in both 

 if well trimmed each year, and the effect of drooping 

 flower-laden branches so late in the season is particularly 

 pleasing. 



Closely allied to the spiraea is a small genus, Exo- 

 chorda, better known as pearl bush, from the tint of its 

 blossoms. It comes from China, and is quite hardy in 

 the Northern States. Properly treated it is orna- 

 mental, but as its foliage is scanty it must be pruned 

 quite close. As in spiraea the beauty is mainly in its 

 bloom. 



A shrub only four or five feet high, but with a single 

 shaft that makes it arboreal, is the leather-wood, whose 

 clustered, greenish-yellow flowers develop before the 

 long and tapering leaves. Its chief interest is the re- 

 markable character of its bark, which is as impression- 

 able as softened wax, but at once regaining its shape 

 i6o 



